You should downshift *while* you are braking so that you are in the correct gear and ready to go immediately after releasing the brakes -- which you should do *gently*.

Agreed. That is how I drive.

I think it was Maseratti who said that, "you can always tell a good driver in the city because they rarely use the brakes." That's not because they are going crazy with downshifting, but because they *anticipate* the traffic, lights, etc. and don't ever need to make sudden adjustments to the car.

I do that all the time without even thinking about it. If I need to just slow down slightly I just let off the gas. If I need to slow down a lot over a period of time/distance, I double-clutch, and, depending on just how fast I need to decelerate, I brake (sometimes heal/toe) as well. If I need to come to a stop or slow down in a short distance, I use the brakes and downshift under braking. Just the way I learned. Hard to break habits.